Apparatus for and method of forming lubricant retaining grooves in textile spinning and twisting rings



July 26, 1966 MGKELVIE 3,262,229

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF FORMING LUBRICANT RETAINING GRoovEs IN TEXTILE SPINNING AND TwIsTING RINGS Filed Jan. 17, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORi M KELv/E 0* 4 w H 3 wm u 6 mm L Ow 2 I IIIJII T aw IL H I l a lllfl m fi m mm 3 I EV. n mw G 0m HENRY R [*1 5Y July 26, 1966 H. R. M KELVIE 3,262,229

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF FORMING LUBRICANT RETAINING GROOVES IN TEXTILE SPINNING AND 'IWISTING RINGS Filed Jan. 17, 1.964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HENRY R. M KELvle m [53: BY Pwfiiwk United States Patent 3 262,229 APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF FORMING LUBRICANT RETAINING GROOVES IN TEXTILE SPINNING AND TWISTING RINGS Henry R. McKelvie, 816 E. King St., Kings Mountain, N.C. 28086 Filed Jan. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 338,402 8 Claims. (Cl. 51-105) This invention relates to the art of grinding and more especially to apparatus for and a method of forming lubricant retaining grooves in the internal surfaces of textile spinning rings, twisting rings, and the like.

Textile rings support travelers for rotation around the internal circumferential ring surfaces under the influence of the fiber strand being processed. The sliding engagement between the traveler and ring surface produces heat and wear which, in turn, is controlled by suitable lubricating means such as lubricant retaining grooves in the surface. With increasingly higher spindle speeds in modern textile machines, however, large quantities of used rings designed for lower speeds have become obsolete on account of an insufficient number of such grooves therein. Moreover, the provision of the necessary additional grooves is a more difiicult task than that of providing the original grooves because the ring is customarily hardened after the original grooves are formed in a new ring. So far as applicant is aware, it has not been possible heretofore to provide additional grooves in these used hardened rings except at such high costs in labor, time and machinery as to render the operation impractical or economically unfeasible.

Although the present invention is adapted for use in reconditioning obsolete textile rings, it is evident that the same principle will be equally applicable to the formation of groove-s in new rings.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an apparatus and method capable of overcoming the aforementioned problem and whereby lubricant retaining grooves can be more easily and economically provided in either the relatively soft new rings or the hardened used rings.

It is another object of invention to provide .a method of forming lubricant retaining grooves in the internal cylindrical surfaces of spinning or twisting rings wherein relative rotation in a common plane and about an elliptical origin is imparted between a groove forming means and an interengaging elliptical ring element of said origin to thereby form grooves along said element which extend at an angle to the plane of the ring.

It is another object of invention to provide an apparatus for forming in the internal circumferential surfaces of textile rings, a plurality of circular lubricant retaining grooves lying respectively in planes inclined with respect to the plane of the ring and following elliptical paths along the internal ring surface.

It is another object of invention to provide a groove grinding apparatus "of the class described in which each groove is formed in that segment of its elliptical path intercepted by the latus rectum of the latter.

It is still another object of invention to provide a novel indexing mechanism in combination with the above-described apparatus whereby successive elliptical paths may be advanced to groove forming position.

Some of the objects of invention having been state-d, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a ring grooving apparatus according to my invention with certain portions thereof shown in section;

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FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of FIGURE 1 with certain portions thereof shown in section;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along line 33 in FIG- URE 2, showing details of an indexing mechanism for advancing the ring to successive groove forming positions;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken along line 4-4 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a diametrical sectional view through a twister ring, showing grooves formed therein according to the present invention, and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view, partly schematic, taken along line 6- 6 in FIGURE 1 and geometrically illustrating the relative positions of parts during a groove forming operation.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral .10 denotes the framework of a grinding machine embodying the present invention, said framework supporting a fixed work head 11 and a relatively adjustable grinder head 12.

Work head 11 has rotatably mounted therein a shaft 14 upon which driving gear '15 is fixedly secured. A ring supporting assembly, .broadly indicated by reference character 16, is secured to gear 15 as at 16a and is adapted to support a spinning or twisting ring 18 in the proper position relative to a groove forming means such as abrasive disk '19 during the formation of grooves 20 in the internal cylindrical ring surface 18a. Ring 18 is similar to the ring shown in the Powrie Patent No. 2,169,709, but differs with respect to the grooves formed therein which supply lubricant to conventional traveler 2 1.

Shaft 14 and ring assembly 16 may be clutched either in a fixed non-rotating position or released for rotation as desired by suitable means such as a clutch mechanism 24 comprising fixed clutch face 26, relatively rotatable clutch face 25, spring 27 and operating lever 28. The member on which clutch face 25 is formed is slidably keyed on shaft 14 as at 26a and may be shifted to and from engagement wit-h fixed clutch face 26 by means of the forked upper end 28a of lever 28, said lever being pivotally mounted to work head 11 as .at 28b.

Grinder head '12 comprises a base 30 slidably mounted as at 31 upon framework 10 toward and away from work head l -1 in a direction longitudinally of the axis of rotation 14 of ring assembly 16. Base 30 may be adjusted to the desired position by means of rod 32 threadably engaging projection 30a of the base, said rod having one end portion thereof rotatably mounted in, and secured against longitudinal movement to, the framework 10 as at 33. An operating handwheel 34 is fixedly secured upon the outer end of rod 32.

Grinder head 12 also includes a second base 35 slidably mounted as at 36 upon base 30 for movement transversely of both the axis of rotation 14 of ring assembly 16 and the framework 10. Likewise the base 35 may be adjusted to the desired position by means of a rod 37 threadably engaging a downwardly extending projection 35a of base 35. Rod 37 has its outer end portion rotatably mounted in the base 30 as at 39, said rod being secured against longitudinal movement by a collar 37a and an operating handwheel 40.

Rising from base 35 is a bracket 42 in which a shaft 43 is journaled, one end of said shaft having a driving gear 44 secured thereon and the other end the previously mentioned grinding disk 19.

It will be observed from FIGURES 1 and 2 that the the plane of the ring 18 is disposed at an acute angle to shaft 14 upon which it rotates, thereby causing the intersection of the ring surface 18a and a vertical plane normal to shaft 14 to lie in an elliptical orbit 45 as illustrated in FIGURE 6. Orbit 45 has an origin 0 alined with shaft 14, a major axis X, X, a minor axis Y, Y, focal points F, F, latus recti A, F, A, and A, F, A, and latus recti intercepts A, B, A and A, B A. The grinding wheel 19 also lies in the plane of the elliptical orbit 45 with its cutting periphery located at a fixed distance R from origin during the cutting of the groove. Thus the difference between the length of R and the distance from origin 0 to ring surface 18a represents the depth of groove 20. When relative rotation is imparted between ring 18 and grinding wheel 19, the circular based groove will be formed in internal ring surface 18a along the latus rectum intercept A, B, A of elliptical orbit 45.

Groove 20 extends diagonally from one edge of internal cylindrical surface 18a to the other, the depth of the groove being slightly greater at each end than at the center due to the difference in curvature between latus rectum intercept A, B, A at surface 18a and that of the bottom of the groove. This variable depth of groove 20 facilitates the flow of lubricant therein and the removal of spent lubricant therefrom.

Ring supporting assembly 16 is provided with an indexing mechanism whereby the supported ring 18 can be rotated to successive groove forming positions, each position presenting an ungrooved path of the internal ring surface 18:: to grinding wheel 19 in orbit 45.

Assembly 16 comprises an annular shell 46 in which the circumferential marginal edge 18b of ring 18 rotatably fits, said ring being releasably held in position and against rotation relative to the shell by a spring-pressed pin 47 which penetrates the shell radially of the ring. Pin 47 is integral with arm 48 of hand lever 49 which, in turn, is pivotally secured as at 50 to the outer periphery of shell 46. A compression spring 51, interposed between shell 46 and another arm 52 of lever 49, normally urges the inner end of pin 47 against the outer periphery of marginal ring portion 18b to hold the ring in position while the groove is ground. The other circumferential marginal edge 180 of ring 18 has an index ring 54 secured therearound by suitable means such as set screw 55 (FIGURE 1), said ring having spaced notches 56 in it outer periphery, each notch corresponding to a lubricant retaining groove 20 in the internal ring surface.

Notches 56 are adapted to be releasably engaged by the beveled end of a dog 57 (FIGURES 3 and 4) pivotally secured intermediate its ends as at 58 to shell 46, said beveled end being yieldingly pressed in engagement with a notch 56 by means of spring 60 disposed between the shell and the other end of dog 57.

When it is desired to rotate ring 18 relative to shell 46 preparatory to the grinding of a lubricant retaining groove 20, the assembly 16 is locked against rotation through engagement of clutch faces and 26 (FIGURE 2), and then lever 49 is rotated in a clockwise manner in FIGURE 3 about pivot 50 to release pin 47 from engagement with the outer periphery of ring edge portion 18b. Immediately following this release and upon continuing pressure upon lever 49, the index ring 54 and associated textile ring 18 will be rotated clockwise relative to shell 46 thereby causing the beveled end of dog 57 to ride out of one notch and into the succeeding notch where, upon release of lever 49, the ring will be releasably held relative to the shell in the correct position for having another groove ground therein at cylindrical internal surface 18a.

It is evident that grooves 20a, indicated by dotted lines in FIGURE 5, may be formed in ring surface 18a in a manner similar to that described above by manipulating the grinding head 12 so as to bring grinding wheel 19 into engagement with the opposite latus rectum intercept A, B, A (FIGURE 6).

In the drawings and specification a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, and although specific terms are employing they are used in a generic sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of invention being set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for forming a lubricant retaining groove in the internal cylindrical wall surface of spinning or twisting rings and along a latus rectum intercept of an elliptical element of said surface comprising: means for mounting said ring for rotation about an axis passing through the origin of said intercept and normal to a plane containing said origin and its corresponding latus rectum intercept, and means disposed radially of said origin and engageable with said surface along the path of said intercept for forming a circular groove in the ring upon the rotation of said mounting means.

2. Apparatus for forming a lubricant retaining groove in the internal cylindrical wall surface of spinning or twisting rings and along a latus rectum intercept of an elliptical element of said surface comprising: means for mounting said ring for rotation about an axis passing through the origin of said intercept and normal to a plane containing said origin and its corresponding latus rectum intercept, means disposed radially of said origin and engageable with said surface along the path of said intercept for forming a circular groove in the ring upon the rotation of said mounting means, and indexing means interconnecting said ring and said mounting means for advancing successive elliptical elements of said internal ring surface into coincidence with said plane.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 and further comprising: means operable alternately with the operation of said indexing means for releasably securing said ring against advancement.

4. Apparatus for forming a lubricant retaining groove in the internal cylindrical wall surface of twisting rings and the like comprising: means for rotatably mounting said ring about its center and an axis extending at an acute angle to the plane of the ring whereby the intersection of said plane with said cylindrical surface will form an elliptical orbit when projected upon a second plane normal to said axis at said ring center, and means disposed in said second plane and engageable with the latus rectum intercept of said elliptical orbit for forming a circularly based groove upon rotation of said mounting means.

5. Apparatus for forming a lubricant retaining groove in the internal cylindrical wall surface of twisting rings and the like comprising: means for rotatably mounting said ring about its center and an axis extending at an acute angle to the plane of the ring whereby the intersection of said plane with said cylindrical surface will form an elliptical orbit when projected upon a second plane normal to said axis at said ring center, means disposed in said second plane and engageable with the latus rectum intercept of said elliptical orbit for forming a circularly based groove upon rotation of said mounting means, and indexing means interconnecting said ring and said mounting means for advancing successive elliptical elements of said internal ring surface into coincidence with said second plane.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 and further comprising: means operable alternately with the operation of said indexing means for releasably securing said ring against advancement.

7. That method of forming a lubricant retaining groove in the internal cylindrical wall surface of a spinning or twisting ring which comprises the steps of: rotating said ring about the origin of an ellipse having its latus rectum intercept coinciding with an element lying in and extending across said internal ring surface, and concurrently forming a circular groove concentric with said origin and in the wall along the path of said intercept.

8. Apparatus for forming a lubricant retaining groove in the internal cylindrical wall surface of a spinning or twisting ring and along a latus rectum intercept of an 5 6 elliptical element of said surface comprising: groove- References Cited by the Examiner forming means engagea ble with said wall surface in the UNITED STATES PATENTS plane of and along said intercept, and means for 1mparting relative rotation between said groove-forming 1,296,979 3/1919 LmdFaY 51 105 means and said ring about the origin of said elliptical ele- 5 1,352,790 9/1920 Damelssonment and in the plane of said intercept to thereby form 2,025,881 12/1935 McGhee et a1 51 290 X a circular groove 1n said wall surface. LESTER M- SWINGLE Primary Examiner- 

1. APPARATUS FOR FORMING A LUBRICANT RETAINING GROOVE IN THE INTERNAL CYLINDRICAL WALL SURFACE OF SPINNING OR TWISTING RINGS AND ALONG A LATUS RECTUM INTERCEPT OF AN ELLIPTICAL ELEMENT OF SAID SURFACE COMPRISING: MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID RING FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS PASSING THROUGH THE ORIGIN OF SAID INTERCEPT AND NORMAL TO A PLANE CONTAINING SAID ORIGIN AND ITS CORRESPONDING LATUS RECTUM INTERCEPT, AND MEANS DISPOSED RADIALLY OF SAID ORIGIN AND ENGEAGEABLE WITH SAID SURFACE ALONG THE PATH OF SAID INTERCEPT FOR FORMING A CIRCULAR GROOVE IN THE RING UPON THE ROTATION OF SAID MOUNTING MEANS. 